MLB's trade values: Who’s cashing in, checking out

Three weeks into a season is far too soon to assess offseason trades. Or is it? Baseball's marquee deals already have paid off handsomely for some teams — and blown up for others. USA TODAY Sports' Jorge L. Ortiz looks at the winners and losers, and the deals that, yes, helped both clubs:

The trade: New York Yankees trade C Jesus Montero and RHP Hector Noesi to the Seattle Mariners for RHP Michael Pineda and minor league RHP Jose Campos

How's that working out? Montero is starting to heat up, a 7-for-22 stretch raising his batting average to .265. Noesi had one excellent start but was shelled in his other two. Still, the Mariners are big winners in the deal. Pineda won't throw a pitch for the Yankees this season because of a recently discovered shoulder injury that will require surgery.

Going forward: Yankees GM Brian Cashman hesitated to make this trade because of Montero's hitting potential. Now it could backfire if the injury compromises Pineda's future.

How's that working out? Both teams are thrilled with the results. While Gonzalez's 20 consecutive scoreless innings have helped the Nationals post the best record in the National League, Milone (3-1, 2.00 ERA) has been just as effective. Norris (.978 on-base-plus-slugging) is off to a hot start at Class AAA, where Peacock is 1-1 in four outings.

Going forward: Gonzalez, who signed a five-year contract after the trade, gives the upstart Nationals a strong lefty complement to Stephen Strasburg at the top of the rotation. The A's could strike it rich in this deal depending on the development of Norris, Peacock and — down the road — Cole.

***

The trade: A's trade RHP Trevor Cahill and LHP Craig Breslow to the Arizona Diamondbacks for RHPs Jarrod Parker and Ryan Cook and OF Collin Cowgill

How's that working out? The Diamondbacks might be starting to get concerned about Cahill, who had a rough spring and, after pitching well in his first two road starts, gave up four earned runs in each of his two home starts, both losses. The latter came Wednesday, the same day Parker made his A's debut with 6.1 innings of one-run ball.

Going forward: This swap figured to be gauged by how Parker eventually performed in comparison to Cahill, an 18-game winner and an All-Star in 2010. But hard-throwing Cook has been a revelation, giving up one hit in nine scoreless innings of relief.

***

The trade: A's trade RHP Andrew Bailey and OF Ryan Sweeney to the Boston Red Sox for OF Josh Reddick and two minor leaguers

How's that working out? Bailey was supposed to replace Jonathan Papelbon as Boston's closer but will be out at least until the All-Star break after thumb surgery. Sweeney has salvaged the deal for the Red Sox by batting .382 with a surprising .582 slugging percentage. Reddick has shown a terrific throwing arm as the A's right fielder but has a .660 OPS.

Going forward: The Red Sox didn't give up a lot in this trade, but they need Bailey, who averaged 25 saves over the last three seasons, to give their bullpen a lift in the second half. Reddick might become a serviceable right fielder if he can build on last year's production (.784 OPS).

How's that working out? Latos, who won 14 games with a 2.92 ERA in 2010, had an 8.22 ERA over his first three starts with the Reds until throwing seven scoreless innings for his first victory Tuesday. Volquez (0-2, 4.30 ERA) continues to struggle with his command, as he did in Cincinnati. Alonso, who had a .943 OPS in 88 at-bats with the Reds last season, is batting .217 with three RBI overall and is hitting .195 at Petco Park.

Going forward: If he gains some maturity, Latos has the stuff to succeed, even at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Alonso eventually might benefit from the Padres bringing in the fences, a move that is being discussed. His performance and the development of Grandal will tilt the scales on this swap.

***

The trade: San Francisco Giants trade LHP Jonathan Sanchez to the Kansas City Royals for OF Melky Cabrera

How's that working out? Cabrera has picked up where he left off last season, his best in the majors, batting .295 and providing some pop and speed from the No. 2 spot in the order. Sanchez has followed in last year's path as well, but that's not a good thing, considering he had a 4.26 ERA and walked nearly six batters every nine innings.

Going forward: The question regarding Cabrera was whether his breakout 2011 was a one-year aberration. This season's numbers are quite similar, and at 27 it's reasonable to expect this might be his true self. Sanchez, 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA, remains maddeningly wild. He's capable of dominating, but not only are his walks up to one per inning, but his strikeouts are noticeably down. It's early, and this is his free agent year, but so far this deal is lopsided in the Giants' favor.

***

The trade: Red Sox trade IF Jed Lowrie and RHP Kyle Weiland to the Houston Astros for RHP Mark Melancon

How's that working out? Neither team is lamenting the absence of any of these players — Lowrie is batting .245 and Weiland has a 6.62 ERA — but Melancon has been a huge bust. After saving 20 games last season, he gave up 11 runs in two innings over four appearances to earn a ticket to Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.).

Going forward: Melancon seems to be regaining his mojo in the minors and could come back to help patch up the Red Sox's leaky bullpen. Oft-injured Lowrie lends stability to Houston's youthful infield, but Weiland might miss his next start with a sore shoulder.

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

USA TODAY is now using Facebook Comments on our stories and blog posts to provide an enhanced user experience. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then "Add" your comment. To report spam or abuse, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box. To find out more, read the FAQ and Conversation Guidelines.

About Daily Pitch

Daily Pitch is a baseball fan's destination for breaking news, emerging trends and enlightening banter. With a veteran group of reporters positioned in three time zones, we provide a balanced, comprehensive glimpse at our national pastime, with a nod to both the passion and complexities that make the sport irresistible to many. More about our reporters